DIDSBURY – Two virtual town halls will be held to garner stakeholder input on the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Feb. 9 council meeting, councillors set Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. for the volunteer organizations' meeting.
A date and time for a second meeting for the business community will be set once the town hears back from the Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce, which will co-host that meeting.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter says the meetings will be a good opportunity for stakeholders to discuss issues and seek out solutions.
“This is definitely about hearing from our groups, but it’s also about them hearing from each other, about the struggles through the pandemic,” said Hunter. “I think this is really important to our community, our organizations and our businesses. It’s an information sharing approach.
“We would certainly reach out to everyone that would like to participate. It’s important for council to hear what is going on in our community. I am really looking forward to those conversations.”
Information and input garnered will be forwarded to the provincial government, she said.
CAO Ethan Gorner added: "The purpose of these is for these groups to share with council what impacts the lockdowns and the pandemic has had on their members and their operations, specifically with regards to their ability to operate.
"Also council will want to hear of ways these groups have adapted and innovated during the lockdowns."
For more information on the upcoming town halls, including how to take part, contact Nicole Aasen, manager of community services at naasen@didsbury.ca, he said.
During the Feb. 9 council meeting, council received a request from the Mountain View Freedom group requesting an in-person meeting with council.
Councillors referred the request to strategic planning committee for consideration.
Mayor Hunter suggested that group members may want to take part in the upcoming town halls.